Category: Early Mormonism
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Joseph Smith’s Kirtland Bank Failure
By Sandra Tanner While it is common knowledge that Joseph Smith founded the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, few know of his attempt to found a bank in Kirtland, Ohio. This important event in Mormon history was reportedly done because of a revelation that Joseph Smith received. The following excerpt is from Mormonism—Shadow…
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Illinois Leaders Apologize to LDS
In an article in the Salt Lake Tribune on Thursday, April 8, 2004, we read: Nearly 160 years after religious persecution in Illinois launched the Mormon exodus to the West, a delegation from the Land of Lincoln met Wednesday with LDS Church and state leaders to formally extend its regrets. It was in 1844 that…
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Brigham Young’s Deseret Alphabet
By Sandra Tanner One of the curious items of early Utah history was Brigham Young’s effort to introduce a new alphabet, known as the Deseret Alphabet, into Mormon use. Western historian David Bigler observed: Old Testament ideas on land ownership and marked ballots were not the only indications that Utah’s earliest settlers were bent on…
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Professor Charles Anthon Letter
Typescript of a letter from Professor Charles Anthon, explaining his experience with the “reformed Egyptian” characters, purportedly copied from Joseph Smith’s gold plates and brought to Anthon for his educated opinion on their authenticity.
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Joseph Smith’s Death — (Bancroft’s History excerpt)
Illustration from Mormonism Unveiled; Or the Life and Confessions of the Late Mormon Bishop, John D. Lee, (St. Louis: Bryan Brand & Co.), 1877 The following account of Joseph Smith’s death is excerpted from Hubert Howe Bancroft’s History of Utah, 1540-1886 (pp. 175-183). On the 24th of June Joseph and Hyrum Smith, the members of…
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Joseph Smith’s 1832 Handwritten First Vision
Typescript and photo of Joseph Smith’s 1832 account of his First Vision (typescript) marvilous even in the likeness of him who created him (them) and when I considered upon these things my heart exclaimed well hath the wise man said the (it is a) fool (that) saith in his heart there is no God my…
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A Brief Chronology of Joseph Smith — 1805-1844
By Sandra Tanner 1805 Joseph Smith, Jr., the founder of the organization now called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also referred to as the Mormon Church), was born on December 23rd in Sharon, Vermont, the fifth child of Lucy Mack and Joseph Smith, Sr. (Some list him as the fourth child, not…
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Mormon Blood Atonement: Fact or Fantasy?
Historical evidence shows that Brigham Young taught that the blood of Christ is insufficient for some sins, requiring the spilling of one’s own blood instead for atonement. Tragic examples show how this was put into practice.
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Mormonism’s Early Secrets
LDS sealings are discussed (particularly, the lesser known Law of Adoption), citing the research of D. Michael Quinn.
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Mormon Claims Answered: Chapter 7
Marvin W. Cowan The Church “We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, etc.” 6th Article of Faith by Joseph Smith The above statement has led many people to conclude that Mormonism is based upon the teachings of the Bible. However, a careful examination of…